Murray closes in on Nadal at No2 as Swiss regains top spot

Published:22:55Updated:23:03Monday 06 July 2009

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ANDY Murray is now within touching distance of world No2 Rafael Nadal in the new ATP rankings. The Spaniard, who did not play at Wimbledon, has been ousted from the No1 spot by new champion Roger Federer, while Murray's points total has increased as a result of his going a round further than he did in 2008.

But although Nadal is still out of action because of injury, there will be little or no movement at the top of the rankings over the next few weeks as players such as Murray and Federer take a well-earned break after Wimbledon. Some big names may take part in the Davis Cup quarter-finals at the weekend, but those ties do not count towards the rankings. Great Britain's next tie is not until September, when they are at home to Poland in Liverpool.

Murray's schedule at present is designed to allow him time to rest for several weeks, and then set him back on the road in preparation for the US Open, the last Grand Slam event of the season.

The ATP Masters Series tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati in the first half of August are expected to be the next tournaments in which Scotland's world No3 competes. He is then expected to take a week off from competition – as he did between Queen's and Wimbledon – in preparation for the US Open, which begins on 31 August.

Federer also plans to play in both the Canadian and American tournaments. He, too, will then have a fallow week before heading to Flushing Meadows for the US Open.

Apart from Federer's reclaiming the No1 spot, the only other change in the top ten sees Jo-Wilfried Tsonga take over at No8 from Fernando Verdasco. The biggest improvements are by Wimbledon quarter-finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero – up 33 places to No37 – and semi-finalist Tommy Haas, who has risen from 34th to 19th.

Serena and Venus Williams remain world Nos2 and 3 respectively, behind Dinara Safina, despite reaching the Wimbledon final. Serena, who beat her sister in straight sets last Saturday, was heavily critical of the way in which the women's tour rankings operate.